Apprenticeships growing in non-traditional fields

By George C. Ford, The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS When Mark Wallinga began working for International Automotive Components (IAC) in 2007, he was employed as a finish operator at the Iowa City plant. In 2008, he began a registered apprenticeship program for mold setting or injection molding setup.

When the recession hit in late 2008, early 2009, I was laid off, Wallinga said. I was recalled to work in late 2009 and spent another year and a half as an apprentice mold setter. I was able to bid for a position as an apprentice electrician in 2010 and was successful.

I started as an apprentice electrician in October 2010. I completed my apprenticeship in April 2013 and became a journeyman electrician.

Wallinga, who completed four years of classroom and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training during his electrician apprenticeship, is second-shift maintenance supervisor at IAC. He said the need to pursue a higher level of training became apparent during his layoff from IAC.

I was actively looking for another job and there was a lot of competition, Wallinga recalled. When I got back into the plant, I began looking at my future and what I could do to prevent that from ever happening again.

When that electrician apprentice bid came up, I jumped all over it because I knew it was a skill I could take with me for the rest of my life.

Changing perceptions

When most people hear the term apprenticeship, they typically think of learning a building trade such as carpentry or masonry.

But that perception is starting to change as other sectors such as advanced manufacturing, culinary arts, health care and information technology are embracing apprenticeships to expand the pool of qualified candidates.

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Apprenticeships growing in non-traditional fields